As we close out the first half of the year, I’m taking a moment to reflect on what’s changed—and what it’s taught me.

Six months ago, I was living in Ireland, planning a very different kind of move.

Since then, I’ve made some of the biggest decisions of my life—including moving to France on my own. It’s something I always wanted to do, but hadn’t acted on until now.

This episode is a look at what it’s really like to start fresh in a new place, face unexpected challenges, and rebuild routines when everything around you shifts. I talk about:

• Learning to trust your gut (and the cost when you don’t)

• Building resilience in a year that didn’t go to plan

• Losing structure, regaining momentum, and showing up anyway

• Creating systems that help me stay grounded, focused, and honest

• Why it’s never too late to do something new—and how this move reminded me of that

This is the last episode before the podcast takes its usual summer break.

We’ll be back in September with Episode 200, and some exciting things to come.

In the meantime, feel free to comment your own mid-year reflections or what you’re planning for the second half of 2025—I’d love to hear where you’re at.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode explores the uncomfortable but deeply honest process of realising you want more—when everything on the surface looks fine.

I talk about what it means to live in that quiet space between “not bad” and “not enough,” and how hard it can be to admit you're ready for something different. Whether it's a shift in your work, relationships, routine, or identity, there's a real fear in acknowledging you’ve outgrown what used to fit.

This isn’t about blowing everything up or throwing shade on your past self. It’s about learning to listen when your inner voice gets louder—and recognising that desire isn’t selfish, it’s information.

I unpack:

• The guilt of wanting more when nothing is technically “wrong”

• The stories we tell ourselves about what we should be happy with

• Why dissatisfaction isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign of growth

• The subtle signs you’re ready to shift (even if you’re scared to)

• How I’ve personally navigated this space and what I’m still figuring out

If you’ve ever felt like you were meant for more—but couldn’t explain why—this episode will help you feel less alone in that.

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag ⁠⁠⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠⁠⁠ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ever feel like visibility should be exciting—but instead it makes you want to run?
In this episode, I’m diving into what it really feels like to be seen—and why it can trigger so much discomfort, even when it’s what we want.

I talk about the subtle ways we keep ourselves small, how fear of attention can sabotage our growth, and the mindset shifts that helped me stop flinching when the spotlight hit.

Whether you're showing up online, taking on new opportunities, or just trying to stop hiding—you’re not alone.

In this episode:
– Why visibility feels scary (even when you asked for it)
– The quiet ways we hide our progress
– How taking up space builds real self-trust
– What’s helped me stop ghosting my goals
– A challenge for anyone ready to stop playing small

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠

• Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠⁠

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag ⁠⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠⁠ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This solo episode is all about self-trust — what it actually means, how we lose it without realising, and what it feels like to build it back.

If you’ve ever felt like you can show up for everyone except yourself… or like your goals always seem to come last on your to-do list, this one’s for you.

We’re not talking about hustle or motivation here. We’re talking about becoming someone you can rely on — someone who keeps their word, even when no one else is watching.

In this episode I cover:

• Why we break promises to ourselves (and how that chips away at confidence)

• What self-trust really looks like in everyday life

• The shift that happens when you start following through

• How to show yourself grace without abandoning your goals

• Simple ways to start rebuilding trust, one small step at a time

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about proving to yourself, day by day, that you’ve got your own back.

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: ⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠

• Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag ⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this solo episode, I’m diving into something that’s been showing up in my own life lately — the middle bit.

That weird, quiet, slightly awkward phase where you’ve started the work, but the big results haven’t arrived yet.

You're not struggling, but you're not buzzing either. You're showing up, but it doesn’t feel exciting. Sound familiar?

This is the episode I needed myself this week — a reminder that growth isn’t always loud, and that progress often hides in the days that feel slow or uncertain.

What I cover:

• Why the “middle” of any journey feels the hardest

• How to recognise progress that doesn’t feel like progress

• The difference between a plateau and quiet integration

• Why slowing down doesn’t mean starting over

• What I’m learning about consistency that doesn’t rely on hype

• How to stay connected to your goals when momentum feels low

You’re not off track — you’re just on a hill. And hills feel harder… but they still move you forward.

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: ⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠

• Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag ⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this solo episode, I’m following up on Episode 191 (When Progress Feels Like Panic) with a deeper dive into the dips that come after growth — and how easy it is to mistake them for failure.

This week, I hit one of those dips myself. After a run of feeling good and showing up consistently, I found myself shutting down — and falling into familiar patterns.

But this time, I responded differently.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever asked, “Why does it feel like I’m back here again?” even though they know they’ve grown.

We’ll talk about:

• How momentum really works (spoiler: it’s not linear)

• Why old patterns show up when you’re tired, stressed, or stretched

• The difference between rest and avoidance

• Why “I should be over this” is a lie

• How to recognise progress even in the middle of a setback

• The one thing I’m doing differently this time around

You’re not back at the start — you’re facing something familiar with stronger awareness. And that’s what growth actually looks like.

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: ⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠

• Find me on Instagram: ⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag ⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I’m getting into the real reason your training isn’t consistent—and it’s not because you’re lazy or unmotivated. It’s because you’re not planning it like you plan everything else in your life.

You schedule work, appointments, social plans—so why do you expect your workouts to just happen?

We’ll cover:

• Why motivation fades and clarity keeps you going

• How to figure out what your body actually needs

• The difference between training for a purpose vs training out of guilt

• How to stop wasting time on workouts that don’t serve you

• What planning your training really looks like (without overcomplicating it)

• When getting help is the fastest way to stop spinning your wheels

If you’ve been stuck in a loop of starting, stopping, and second-guessing—this is for you.

• Work with me: www.chrissyhawkins.com

• Find me on Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_

• Got questions? DM me or drop a voice note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for motivation.

• Leave a quick rating or review—it helps get this message in front of more people.

• Tag @stronginthesaddle_ in your stories so I can say thanks.

Resources + Links:If you found this episode useful…

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this solo episode, I dive into the realities of overthinking — and how waiting for the "perfect" plan or moment can leave you stuck doing nothing at all.

I talk about:

• How I wasn’t even an over-planner — I just avoided planning altogether, but convinced myself I'd made progress

• The challenges of being an introvert in a media course full of extroverts, and the jealousy I felt seeing others so clear on their paths

• Working in a jewellers, eventually studying to become a PT, and how long it took me to make the leap into the fitness world

• Realising I’m not a professional planner — I’m a professional overthinker

• How even perfectly laid plans (like my trip through France) can still go wrong — and why that's okay

• The importance of learning by doing, and seeing setbacks as feedback, not failure

• Taking opportunities even when you don’t feel ready, because that's the only way to grow

• Finding little ways to get out of your own head — even if it’s having full-blown conversations with yourself

• Creating routines and rituals that help you take action, without overwhelming yourself with a huge list of “non-negotiables”

• Why if you wait for the perfect time, you'll just end up watching life pass you by — so you might as well go for it

I'd love to hear what you’re working towards — drop a comment and let me know!

Links + Mentions:

• Connect on Instagram → ⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠

  
  

  Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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  Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  
  

In this solo episode, I’m sharing something I’ve been unpacking privately for a long time—my relationship with stress, and how it shows up when life starts to change.

You’ll hear about the pattern I’ve noticed in myself: how I sometimes retreat after making bold moves, even when they’re exactly what I wanted.

I talk through how I used to bury stress, what happened when that stopped working, and the questions I ask myself now when I start to feel overwhelmed or blocked.

Whether you’re in a season of growth, burnout, or somewhere in between—this episode is here to remind you: you’re not behind, and you’re not alone.

What I cover:

• Why we pull back after stepping outside our comfort zone

• The stress response no one talks about

• How I process overwhelm and check in with what I really need

• The difference between resting and avoiding

• Simple steps to move forward without bulldozing yourself

Links + Mentions:

• Connect on Instagram → @stronginthesaddle_

  
  

  Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

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  Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

Today I’m joined by Mark Jason Fanning — racing pundit, content creator, and all-round racing enthusiast.

If you’ve ever found yourself caught up in the buzz of a raceday or just love hearing from someone who truly lives and breathes the sport, this one’s for you.

We chat about:

• How Mark first got into racing — from skipping school to hiding in ditches just to catch a glimpse of the action at Thurles

• Working with bookies on racedays to earn a few quid and fuel the passion

• How the general interest in racing has changed over the years, even around big events like Cheltenham

• The shift in tech from the Bebo days to building a brand and showing up online now

• The challenges of putting yourself out there and how to handle both constructive feedback and the not-so-constructive

• Plans for the year ahead, including setting up a little home studio for content creation

• Tackling racing’s bad reputation — and why we need more stories that highlight the real care and love for the horses

• Why good news doesn’t travel as fast as bad news, and what needs to change

• Going to Cheltenham for the first time (despite working in racing for years) and how it lived up to the hype

• Mark also flips the script at the end and shares the best advice he would give someone starting out

We also take a moment to reflect on the tragic passing of jockey Michael O’Sullivan, and the impact it had on the racing community — a sobering reminder of the risks in the sport and the strength of the people within it.

Where to find Mark:
Instagram – @markjason86
YouTube – MJF Sports

If you are interested in working with me you can find me :

Equestrian Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@stronginthesaddle_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Happy Hips for horseriding PDF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Supple Shoulders for the Saddle PDF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chrissyhawkins.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠